A Lion in the Meadow

A Lion in the Meadow
AuthorMargaret Mahy
IllustratorJenny Williams
LanguageEnglish
GenreChildren's book
PublisherJ.M. Dent & Sons; Franklin Watts
Publication date1969
Publication placeNew Zealand
Pages28
ISBN0460057812

A Lion in the Meadow is the first children's book written by the New Zealand author Margaret Mahy. Illustrations were done by London artist Jenny Williams. The book was first published in 1969 and won the 1975 Esther Glen Award.[1][2] It was also one of the books chosen to accompany Mahy's 2002 Hans Christian Andersen Award nomination.[3] The book was reissued in 1989 with a kinder ending.[2]

Plot

A Lion in the Meadow follows a little boy who notices a lion living in a meadow behind his house. He attempts to warn his mother, but she dismisses his claims as "nonsense". She tells him to enter the meadow to see for himself that there is no lion, but he is afraid to.

She decides to humour him by making up a story of her own, giving him a matchbox and claiming there is a dragon inside which will chase the lion away. However, the story turns out to be true and the lion is chased into the broom cupboard, where he reveals that he can talk and lives on apples. The boy and the lion decide to play in a separate meadow where the lion is not.

Art

The art work presented is captured in many unique ways. It fumbles upon distinctive swirls, shapes, and colors that emphasizes the story line. The pictures by Jenny Williams has a slightly trippy vibe. With bold swirls and pinks, oranges and purples reflect the little boy's imagination and are mirrored by the mother's clothes and interior decor in the house.

Themes

The theme of the story is focused on the idea of over parenting, and taking a over bearing stance on child development; one where the parent tries to limit and restrict the imagination of the child.

References

  1. ↑ "Margaret Mahy". Storylines.org.nz. Auckland, New Zealand: Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust of New Zealand. n.d. Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  2. 1 2 Blundell, Sally (23 April 2019). "Twist in the tale: Why Margaret Mahy changed the end of her classic debut". Noted. Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  3. ↑ Margie Thomson (3 April 2002). "Mahy, a lion in our literary meadow". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 31 August 2019.

4. “A Lion in the Meadow.” Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand, www.hachette.co.nz/book/?id=a-lion-in-the-meadow-9781869713904.

5. Bloomfield, Jenny. “Jenny's Picture Book Review: 'a Lion in the Meadow' by Margaret Mahy and Jenny Williams.” Bloomfield & Rolfe, Bloomfield & Rolfe, 28 Apr. 2013, https://www.bloomfieldandrolfe.com/blog/2013/3/29/jennys-picture-book-review-a-lion-in-the-meadow-by-margaret-mahy-and-jenny-williams.

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